The long-awaited CTrail Hartford Line will launch on June 16 with trains operating between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield, officials announced Tuesday.

Developers are hoping the $769 million rail line will allow employers to draw from a larger workforce pool in the Hartford and Springfield regions and broaden workers' employment reach.

Project officials said the rail service encourages economic development by expanding access to major employment centers, business and recreational travel, spurs development of nearby train stations, while providing environmental benefits and fast transportation.

Beginning June 18, trains will run approximately every 45 minutes during the morning and evening peak hours. A total of 17 trains per day will run between New Haven and Hartford while another 12 trains operate between Hartford and Springfield, officials said.

With trains traveling as fast as 110 mph, a trip from New Haven to Springfield is scheduled to take 81 minutes.

The rail line will also provide connecting service to New York City, Boston and Vermont.

Financed by federal and state funds, the Hartford Line's development has spurred the construction of new train stations in Berlin, Meriden and Wallingford. Four future stations are also planned in North Haven, Newington, West Hartford and Enfield.

James P. Redeker, the commissioner of the state Department of Transportation, said the rail line will become the most frequently used train service backed by the Federal Railroad Administration's rail grant program that established in 2011.

"The delivery of this new rail service is a model for the country and Connecticut should take immense pride in this achievement and celebrate not just the completion of the construction, but the beginning of a bright new transportation and economic development future for the state," Redeker said.

nadefran

04/19/18 AT 08:13 AM

Another fairy tale by the State Dept of Transportation in terms of economic development and all of the other praises they pat themselves on the back. There has been so little transparency with this department with Fastrak when pressed for information including how many thousands of cars this was going to take off I84 and yet there are so few parking spaces that were constructed, who is kidding who.

I would not want to be a passenger on one of these 30 year old refurbished cars going at 110 miles per hour!

Another sad chapter in our states management or lack thereof never mind the fact that this project has been in the works for so many years.